Container opening device



Dec. 21, 1954 MQYLE 2,697,275

CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1952 F/GZ LEIGH L. MOYLE INVENTQR I BY W ATTORNEY rates Patent Ofifice 2,697,275 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 QQNTAENER GPENING DEVICE Lei h L. Meg 1e, Whittier, Calif. Application Jane 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,834 6 Claims. (Cl. IMF-16) This invention relates generally to combination tools and relates more particularly to container opening implements or devices and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of this character for punching openings in cans.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character for opening crown cap bottles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is formed and constructed of wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device 8f this character having means for closing crown cap ottles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having novel structural features, combinations and arrangements of parts.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character that is simple in construction, effective in operation and that is relatively inexpensive to manu facture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

ig. 1 is an elevational view the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same in position on a can, the device being ready for rocking so as to punch an opening in said can;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken Fig. 4 is a view taken from line Fig. 5 is a side view, partially resealing part of the device; and

Fig. 6 is a partial side view of an alternative arrangement of a portion of the device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the device is shown as comprising a single piece of wire of suitable gage. The wire is bent so as to form a handle portion 10, the rounded bend 12 at the free end of the handle being substantially midway between the ends of the piece of wire. The sides 13 of the handle converge toward a neck 14 where said side pieces 13 are close to each other. From this region the wire ends are formed to provide a loop, indicated enerally at 16, which includes a generally oval portion 18 that has its longest dimension extending longitudinally of the device.

Oppositely of the handle the end portions 20 of the wire are turned outwardly from spaced points 21 at the the loop part 18 and said end portions of a device embodying on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; 4-4 of Fig. l; in section, showing the joined. The tip of the V-shaped end part 22 is formed (by stamping, grinding or otherwise) into a sharp punching or piercing point 24. The end portions 20 of the wire are also flattened at the bottom and sides, as indicated at 26 and 28 respectively, to provide relatively sharp cutting edges 30 which extend from the tip 24 rearwardly toward the loop portion 18 along the lower outer sides of the V-shaped part 22.

At the region 21 where the V-shaped part 22 joins the loop 18 said end portions 20, which form the part 22, are offset upwardly relative to the plane of the loop portion 13. As seen best shown in Fig. 2, the end portions 20 are turned upwardly and extend generally arcuately forwardly, upwardly and then downwardly again from rear to front so that the point 24 of said V-shaped part is near said plane of the loop portion 18.

At the inner edges of the wire parts adjacent the junctions 21 are lips, indicated generally at 32, which are formed by pinching out or swaging the wire portions. The rearward part 34 of each lip is formed from material of the forward end of the respective side of the loop 18, just behind the point 21 thereof, and is left integral therewith. The rear free ends of the parts 34 are adapted to engage the under edge of crown caps when the device is used to remove said caps.

The forward part 36 of each lip is formed from material of the rear portion of the respective wire ends 20 and is separated or sheared therefrom so as to pro ect forwardly of the front end of the loop portion 18 and beneath the V-shaped forward end 22 of the device (Fig. 2) which, as above pointed out, is offset upwardly and is spaced upwardly of the parts 36 of the lips. With this arrangement there is provided the necessary clearance for the rim 40 of a can 42 (Fig. 2) during the punching operation of the device when the forward free ends of the lip parts 36 are in engagement with the under side of said rim.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the lips 32 serve two purposes, that is, they serve as cap engaging means and can rim engaging means.

The recapping means comprises an inverted cupshaped part 44 and is provided with an outer free edge portion 45 which flares outwardly, the cap being so shaped as to fit over a crown cap and force the rim portion thereof inwardly into firm locking position on the bottle when the resealing or recapping part 44 is pressed downwardly on said cap.

Adjacent the bottom of the part 44 there is an inwardly formed annular groove 46 in which the wire of the handle, and particularly the curved portion 12 thereof, is received. The wire is bent about the part 44 and in said groove 46 as the device is being manufactured and before the tips of the end portions 20 of the wire are welded together. After the welding operation the cup-shaped part 44 is firmly secured in position and will not be able to slide longitudinally of the handle due to the converging of the sides 13 of the handle toward each other from said bent part 12. Manufacture of the device is thus simplified and costs reduced.

The forward ends of the lips 32 may be relatively sharp and turned up, as at 50, so as to better retain their position beneath the rim 40 0 pointed end 24 of the V-shaped of the can and the cutting edges 30 of said part 22 out toward the can rim. At the same time the flattened bottom portions 26 of the end parts 20 press the tongue which is being cut out, toward the adjacent side of the can.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the lips for engagement of the rim of the crown cap are indicated at 34a and are in the general location of the parts 34 of the lips 32. The can rim engagement members 54 are pinched or swaged from the metal of the adjacent wire parts, as at 55, from which said members depend, said members being adjacent the lips 34a. These members 54 extend forwardly and may be pointed so as to better engage the under edge of the can rim 40.

I claim: 1. In a device of the class described: nt to form a handle portion at one end of said device and a generally V-shaped can punching part at the other end of said device, said V-shaped can punching part being formed of the free end portions of the wire piece with the tips of said portions secured together; and can rim engaging lip means formed from the material of the wire and including rim engaging ends spaced from the plane of said V-shaped part so that there is rim clearance between said lips and said V-shaped part.

2. In a device of the class described: a piece of wire bent to form a handle portion at one end of the device and a generally V-shaped can punching part at the other end of said device, said V-shaped can punching part being formed of the free end portions of the wire with the tips part 22 pierces the top a piece of wire U of said end portions secured together and formed into a can piercing point; and can rim engaging lip means formed from the material of the'wire and including rim engaging ends spaced from the plane of said V-shaped part so that there is rim clearance betweensaid lips and said V-shaped part.

3. In a device of the class described: a piece of wire bent to form a handle portion at one end of said device and a generally V-shaped can punching part at the other end of said device, said V-shaped can punching part being formed of the free end portions of the wire piece with the tips of said end portions secured together and formed into a can piercing point; and can rim engaging lips projecting from wire and spaced from the can piercing point.

4-. in a device of the class described: a piece of wire bent to form a handle portion at one end of the device and a generally V-shaped can punching part at the other end of said device, the arms of said V-shaped part comprising portions of said wire piece and being joined at the apex of said part; and can rim engaging means having rim engaging parts spaced from the apex of said V-shaped art.

5. A device of the class described, comprising: a single piece of wire bent to form a handle portion having the outer end thereof closed with a curved part which is substantially the mid-section of said piece of wire, the sides of the handle converging from the curved end to a junction with a generally V-shaped can punching part which is formed from the end portions of the wire, the tips of said end portions being secured together, said V-shaped portion being ofiset relative to the plane of the handle and terminating at its forward end in a sharp downwardly facing can piercing point, said V-shaped portion also having cutting edges extending from said piercing point rearwardly and on the outer lower sides of said end portions forming said V-shaped portion; and lips formed from the metal of the wire adjacent the said junction, said lips being on the inner side of the V, each lip comprising a rearward portion integral with the wire and a front portion separated from the wire and projecting forwardly beneath the base of said V-shaped portion, said front portion having a relatively pointed free end turned toward the V-shaped portion and adapted to engage the rim of a can and serving as a fulcrum on which the device may be rocked for punching an opening in a can.

6. A device of the class described, comprising: a single piece of wire bent to form a handle portion having the outer end thereof closed with a part which is at substantially the middle of the length of wire, the sides of said handle extending from said closed end to join a generally V-shaped can punching part which is formed from the end portions of the wire of said sides, the tips of said end portions being secured together, said V-shaped part being offset relative to the plane of the handle and terminating at its forward end in a sharp, downwardly facing can piercing point, said V-shaped portion also having cutting edges along the lower outer sides; and lips adjacent the junction of the sides of the handle and the wire end portions forming the V-shaped part, said lips being on the inner sides and including a front portion separated from the wire and projecting forwardly beneath the base of the V-shaped part, said front portions of the lips having relatively pointed free ends turned toward the V-shaped part and adapted to engage the rim of a can, said front portions of the lips being spaced from the V-shaped part so there will be clearance for the rim of the'can during the punching operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

